The holding of GE-18 marked a
decade of democratic structure running its full course and the elected
governments exhausting their complete terms and entering into the other.
Carrying out the elections was a change in itself.The people participated with
fervour and enthusiasm. The highly competitive environment of the political
scenario exhibited a majorpower shift and PTI gaudily emerged as the leading
political party. IK has struggled for over 22 years of facinghard stepping and
failures.His political career so far has been arduous, strenuous and demanding
standing up against the corruption and fighting for the cause with anintense
clarity of his objective.
In the duration of his struggle IK has woken up the sleeping giant of political
awareness in the country and that resulted in a turnout of 53% approx. The Prime
Ministervended a dream of change to the Pakistanis. Holding the flag high for a
corruption-free Pakistan and rule of justice, IK and PTI raised the bar of
expectations from their voters and supporters. He is to face a tough opposition
but the foremost challenge for him as sitting PM would be to come up to high
expectations and only time will tell if he was able to deliver the change he
promised.Imran Khan in his address to the nation won hearts of Pakistanis;his
speech was visionary. Every word of him proved to the audience that IK was a
rightful winner. The manifesto setspoke opulently the objectives, priorities and
the dynamics of new government.
Pakistan has been poorly performing in the foreign policy for a couple of
years;the position of FM laid vacant for too long and with the internal
political governance issues and the raising pressures from the international
community, Pakistan was being side-lined. Imran Khan being a recognized
figureand acclaimed for being amongst the 100 most influential leaders could
undeniably reset the ties at the international level. An intense speculation and
reservation was expressed in Indian media pertaining to IK’s holding the chair
for Pakistan, but his speech not only dissolved all the exaggerated hype but
also altered their perspectives ashe calledfor peacefulrelations with India. It
was welcomed by both the Pakistanis and the critics across the border.
Similarly, official messages tweeted in the Chinese and Afghani languages
affirmed to strengthen the ties with the neighbouring countries. The gesture was
responded with positive retort reaffirming the importance of Pakistan as their
friendly neighbours. With US, the speech was responded with civil positivity but
it is to note that IKhas been famed for being blunt; he opposed US policies of
drone attacks in the past. This fearless attitude may nudge Pakistan into a
strong position to be able to convey and present its traction on various
international issues more proactively.
One of the most critical challenges IK and his government will have to face is
the fight they took on against corruption. The corruption is rooted in the
system and in the absence of a proper accountability procedures and
implementations; PTI will have to start from grass root levels to eradicate the
core of corruption. It is going to be a tough terrain and the execution of the
much awaited change could be slackened down and hampered because of these
exhausting barricades.
Countering corruption and rooting out corruption at all levels will improve in
the efficient consumption of tax payers’ money. PTI government aims to improve
the tax collecting mechanismby ensuring receipt of tax from the big giants and
shrinking burden on the masses. Astoundingly unlike the precedents, IK in his
speech announced to controlthe running government expenses by denying the
luxurious lifestyle and VIP culture already securing a major chunk of the
treasury. If implemented, PTI would set an example of low maintenance
governance. IK in his speech cited that he would protect the tax payers’ money.
Clearly this is the need of the time when Pakistan is facing severe economic
crisis. A rise in the value of money was already witnessed since the results
surfaced and if right policies are initiated by PTI, it seems to attract a good
amount of foreign and localinvestments.
Depoliticizing of the police force as aimed by PTI will strengthen the
institution enhancing its credibility and efficiency resulting in a competently
managed crime purge around the country and a better law and order situation. As
also the VIP lifestyle is negated by the PTI, it is expected that the large
number of police force deployed on moving with the protocol squad will be
lessened and deployed where they are more efficient and productive.
Civil-military relations are always the backbone of the country. Internal
security still remains a challenge for the nation and for effectively countering
terrorism it is inevitable that the government and the Armed Forces stand on the
same page and work coherently to improve the law and order and the national
security situation. Military has always been sincere to the defence of the
country putting Pakistan first in all situations, come what may. In the past,
the civil-military relations were constrained from time to time and the reason
behind remained Military’s no-tolerance policy on national interests.
IK has always proved himself to be holding national interests above his personal
individuality. His clear stance on the corruption eradication, the strength of
judiciary and accountability mechanism has proved IK to be positioning nation
ahead of everything. Moreover, PTI and IK have taken a strong position in the
previous few years with respect to terrorism andcome out from their greys to the
absolute surety that any kind of terrorist is a national threat and must be
dealt with appropriateresponse. A pro-national government keeping its interest
supreme looks promising to work coherently and in congruence with the interests
of military. This synchronization anticipated will assuredly result in
harmonious and correlated civil-military relations in Pakistan and will also
unconditionallyaffect the national policy pertaining to security and defence.
IK with hisNaya Pakistanvision has won PTI an opportunity to showcase potentials
and exert capability by ensuring delivery of good governance and taking
Pakistanout of the crises. It is impossible to create a difference in their
first hundred days, but the push and thread of the government will surely
indicatethe true direction PTI is on its way to running the government. The
strenuous environment demands resilientresolve andconsistent efforts to make
rational decisions and create a difference in the face of all odds. The great
expectations have risen the bar and the motto of tabdeeli by IK will be realized
only when this change as promised, is delivered and the tabdeeli is vividly
visibly by the common people.
IK has been welcomed by the domestic and international circles and trusted to
make Pakistan great again because a stronger Pakistan will contribute positively
to the world. He has risen above as a non-typical politician and emerged as a
much awaited leader Pakistan was looking for. But the success of the new
government will profoundly depend on the delivery of good governance,
improvement in the economic condition and circular debts, strengthening the
judiciary accountability systems, eradicating corruption, uplifting the living
standard of the under privileged and making the promise of change, a reality.